Devices, systems and methods for detecting viable infectious agents in a fluid sample using an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor sensor

Abstract

Various devices, systems and methods for detecting a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective are described herein. A method comprises introducing a fluid sample to a first surface and a second surface; exposing the first surface to a first solution; exposing, the second surface to a second solution, wherein the second surface comprises an anti-infective; sampling the first solution after exposing the first solution to the first surface; sampling the second solution after exposing the second solution to the second surface; monitoring a first electrical characteristic of a first electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first solution sampled; monitoring a second electrical characteristic of a second EIS sensor exposed to the second solution sampled; and comparing the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for detecting a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective, the method comprising:
 introducing a fluid sample to a first surface and a second surface; 
 exposing the first surface comprising the infectious agent to a. first solution; 
 exposing the second surface comprising the infectious agent to a second solution, wherein at least one of the second surface and the second solution comprises an anti-infective: 
 sampling the first solution after exposing the first solution to the first surface; 
 sampling the second solution after exposing the second solution to the second surface; 
 monitoring a first electrical characteristic of a first electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first solution sampled; 
 monitoring a second electrical characteristic of a second EIS sensor exposed to the second solution sampled; and 
 comparing, the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a filter surface or a well surface. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second surface is separate from the first surface and is another instance of the filter surface or the well surface. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is a non-clogging filter. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface comprises pores of sequentially smaller pore size. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic includes determining a difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic and wherein the difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic is a result of a difference in a solution characteristic of the first solution and the second solution. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim wherein the difference in the solution characteristic of the first solution and the second solution is a difference in at least one of a molecular count, a concentration of an ion, and a solution temperature. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 . wherein the infectious agent s a bacteria, a fungus, a virus, or a prion. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first EIS sensor and the second EIS sensor are housed by a protective chamber and the protective chamber is at least one of an electrically isolated environment, a temperature controlled chamber, and a light controlled chamber. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 . further comprising directing the first solution to the first surface or directing the second solution to the second surface using a pump. 
     
     
       11. A method for detecting a susceptibility of an infectious agent to an anti-infective, the method comprising:
 introducing a fluid sample to a first surface and a second surface; 
 exposing the first surface comprising the infectious agent to a first solution; 
 exposing the second surface comprising the infectious agent to a second solution, wherein at least one of the second surface and the second solution comprises an anti-infective; 
 sampling the first solution from the first surface after exposing the first surface to the first solution; 
 sampling the second solution from the second surface after exposing the second surface to the second solution; 
 monitoring a first electrical characteristic of an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor exposed to the first solution sampled; 
 monitoring a second electrical characteristic of the EIS sensor exposed to the second solution sampled; and 
 comparing the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic to assess the susceptibility of the infectious agent to the anti-infective. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first surface is a filter surface or a well surface. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the second surface is separate from the first surface and is another instance of the filter surface or the well surface. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is a non-clogging filter. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface comprises pores of sequentially smaller pore size. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 11 , wherein comparing the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic includes determining a difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic and wherein the difference between the first electrical characteristic and the second electrical characteristic is a result of a difference in a solution characteristic of the first solution and the second solution. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the difference in the solution characteristic of the first solution and the second solution is a difference in at least one of a molecular count, a concentration of an ion, and a solution temperature. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the infectious agent is a bacteria, a fungus, a virus, or a prion. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 11 . wherein the EIS sensor is housed by a protective chamber and the protective chamber is at least one of an electrically isolated environment, a temperature controlled chamber, and a light controlled chamber. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising directing the first solution to the first surface or directing the second solution to the second surface using a pump.